While we are waiting for our leaf cutter cocoons and habitats to be delivered for Phase2 of our 2020 activities; we will revisit our friends in Flowing Springs, the Payson Pumpkin People (PPP). As you remember, last year the PPP entered a contest to see who could grow the largest pumpkin in Arizona.
Despite many hours of hard and diligent work, the PPP were shut out! Their remaining candidate died on the vine.
Well, they're back this year with a bigger and better plan that will lead to a bigger and winning pumpkin. Here's Steve's report from late April:
"Planning & plotting the season (these guys aren't nearly as glum as they may look here), cleaning out the critters, spring tilling of the patch, check the soil chemistry, and of course getting out to the patch is half the fun.
Seeds into pots the last week of April, into the patch about the last of May, depending on our normally weird mountain weather."
Steve's update in early May:
"What does it say that we had to use a brush hog on the pumpkin patch, before we could till everything under?
That the soil is rich, and now nicely prepared for those pumpkin plants that will go in about the third week of May.
A thorough watering this weekend, another check of the soil pH and organics, then a final tilling next week.
The seeds were planted in a green house (sort of, maybe more of a green garage) today, they should be up next week, and then ready to move to the patch in late May.
Remember last year, our last snow was about May 20, so even though it feels like summer has come early with highs in the 80s virtually every day, here in the mountains there will probably be another cold spell before summer really settles in.
Key: Pumpkins like soil temps above 70F. "
Steve
Follow us on FaceBook where all of our updates are located at one place:
Payson Pumpkin People
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1566268573483464/ "
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